Archive for April, 2011

1st Lt. Nicole M. Siemer ’06 will be the recipient of the university’s John L. Geoghegan Alumni Citizenship Award at the Widener-PMC Alumni Awards dinner on Saturday, April 16. Widener Magazine in spring 2010 featured her in the article “Hospitality in War Time — Widener Grad Puts Degree to Use in Iraq” focusing on her service with the Army Civil Affairs Division. Siemer (formerly Perkins) will not be able to attend the dinner because she recently has been deployed to Afghanistan.

To attend the dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 16 in Lathem Hall on the Widener University Main Campus, register on the Alumni Weekend registration page or by calling 610-499-1154. For the full alumni weekend schedule, click here.

The Widener-PMC annual spring alumni weekend is only 10 days away. This year includes the Campaign for Widener Kick-Off Rally from noon – 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16 on Memorial Field. Children are welcome, and can take part in activities like face painting. Widener student groups and schools will host presentations and displays, and guest speakers will include Phil Martelli ’76, head coach of the St. Joseph’s University men’s basketball team. Your meal and ice cream at the casual barbecue/picnic is free, but you are encouraged to register on the Alumni Weekend registration page or by calling 610-499-1154.

There are many other events on Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16.

On Saturday, the lineup consists of a student resident advisers car wash to raise funds for charity; the Campaign for Widener Kick-Off Rally; the Alumni Council spring meeting; and the Alumni Awards Celebration.

Widener University’s Office of Alumni Relations wants to hear from our graduates about how what you learned in your years here has benefitted you in the working world.

Our first alumnus to be featured in this question-and-answer format is Carlo Toscano, a 1985 accounting graduate. He is tax managing director in KPMG’s Philadelphia Business Unit in charge of the financial institution’s tax practice in Pennsylvania, and a past president and member of the board of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Financial Manager’s Society.

How did studies in your field make a difference for you?

Toscano: The courses in my major – accounting – were right on point. Much of the material that was discussed in the classroom was actually used in real life settings, which made me well prepared for the working world.

What did you learn that contributed value to your work? Was there a particular course or experience?

Toscano: Most of the intermediate and advance accounting courses had content that was applicable to my work almost immediately. In addition, I was part of the co-op program, which allowed for me to use some of the classroom knowledge in the workplace before graduating, which then allowed for the remainder of the classroom curriculum to be absorbed much easier.

What is so great about your degree?

Toscano: The degree credentializes all the years of learning and experiences at Widener. It’s something that signifies accomplishment and indicates knowledge from a select program.

What about your Widener experience makes you different when compared to work colleagues who graduated from other institutions?

Toscano: Many of my work colleagues have attended other fine institutions. The small classroom environment and one-to-one teaching aspect at Widener really allowed for a personal experience unlike those at larger programs.

“April is the cruelest month,” T.S. Eliot writes in the first line of his poem “The Wasteland.” I doubt he was referring to sloppy, wet snow on the Phillies opening day, but that’s what we had this April 1 morning at 9 a.m. on the Widener University campus. At least the ground is too warm for it to stick.